The Long Trail Mag

Vermont-based DeMars Guitars announces the evolution of their innovative Long Trail line of US-made chambered solid-body electric bass guitars.

Company head Dan DeMars explains: “The Long Trail Mag electric bass guitars were developed in response to bassists who really loved our initial line of Long Trail chambered solid-body acoustic/electric basses. They asked why we didn’t make electric basses — it was a great question! We put in a lot of thought and had numerous discussions with bassists (of all playing styles), instrument techs, producers, component and amp manufacturers and retailers. We ended up designing and producing a line of distinctive electric basses that are built with the finest materials and components yet deliver a variety of tones simply unattainable with vintage/classic instruments.

The Long Trail Mag electric bass guitars have chambered solid-bodies of basswood, mahogany or alder, with an optional flame maple top. The neck attachment design is central to the sonic character of all DeMars instruments. “Most ‘bolt-on’ guitar necks aren’t bolt-on at all”, says DeMars, “but rather a relatively archaic ‘woodscrew-straight-into-neck-heel’ design. Our 3-piece quartersawn rock maple necks are attached to the body by four aircraft-grade black oxide hex-head bolts that mesh into precision-threaded brass inserts epoxied into the neck heel.” The result: structural rigidity, more sustain and optimal tonal delivery.

The Long Trail Mags sport two passive pickups (“soapbar” style at the bridge, J-style at the neck) by Bartolini, Basslines or EMG that are located on either side of the distinctive bass-clef soundhole. Additionally, all Long Trail Mag basses can be equipped with GraphTech® Ghost™ bridge saddles to deliver acoustic timbres through a “smart” stereo output jack. The combination of magnetic and piezo pickups provides the bassist a myriad of tonal possibilities, from a deep yet clear low B-string growl to a bright funky spank.

Available with fretted rosewood, fretted maple or fretless ebony fingerboards, as a 34″ scale 4-string or 35″ scale 5-string, the Long Trail Mag bass guitars have MSRPs of $3800 (4-string) and $4000 (5-string).